Crafton's report also indicated that United's offer to Everton for Baines could go as high as £20 million.

Zabaleta came to City in 2008 from Espanyol for a transfer fee of approximately £6.5 million, according to ESPN.com's player profile. He is rumored to be in line for a two-year contract extension at City, per The Metro.

Maybe all of these numbers are conjecture, but it is remarkable how similar they are.

Still, it strains credulity to think that City could get £20 million for Zabaleta.

Defensive Prowess

According to whoscored.com's defensive statistics, Zabaleta averaged almost four tackles and two interceptions per match in Premier League play last season, to go along with nearly four clearances per match.

Baines averaged about two-and-a-half tackles and one-and-a-half interceptions per match in league play, with an average of two clearances.

Zabaleta also nearly doubled Baines in fouls committed.

So, considering only their play in their own halves, Zabaleta is the choice.

Arguably, Baines has not needed to lead at Everton to this point. Tim Howard carried a lot of that weight for a long time, though as the level of Howard's play ebbs it will be harder for him to maintain that primacy.

And right now, of course, Phil Jagielka is Everton's captain.

Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta, conversely, is a a player who has the potential to lead.

He has led for a long time and continues to do so now.

Zabaleta is often the first choice to take the arm band from Vincent Kompany on the rare occasions when Kompany leaves the pitch.

Moreover, Zabaleta has a history of leading teammates.

Per Duncan White's 2011 profile of Zabaleta for The Telegraph, Zabaleta at age 20 captained the Argentine contingent in the 2005 World Youth Championship tournament. Among his charges on that squad was current teammate Sergio Aguero.